Northumberland

Northumberland's population grew older in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, health and marriage.

The population reached nearly 320,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Northumberland increased by 2.9%, from just over 307,000 to 316,000.

The addition of about 8,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Northumberland was home to, on average, 0.45 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the North East's least densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was lower than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Northumberland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Northumberland increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This remote area had the highest average age in the North East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 11,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 9,000.

About 14.0% of people in Northumberland are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Northumberland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Northumberland that rented privately increased from 8.7% to 13.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in five (18.7%) households lived in social housing, compared with 21.5% in 2001. The percentage of Northumberland households that owned their home decreased from 66.8% to 65.8%.

The proportion of privately rented homes decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North East. But despite the improvement, Northumberland remained less healthy than the regional average 13.7% in the North East described their health as good in 2011).

Private renting in Northumberland increased by 4.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Northumberland, the North East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health fell in Northumberland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 12.0% to 7.5%.

Across the North East, the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell from 12.0% to 7.5% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in County Durham (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Northumberland) fell from 13.2% to 8.2%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Northumberland decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Northumberland, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The proportion of married people fell in Northumberland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 50.8% to 45.8%.

Across the North East, the proportion of married people fell from 50.8% to 45.8% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in nearby County Durham fell from 52.7% to 47.4%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work life

The rate of employment increased in Northumberland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East, except Newcastle upon Tyne.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of employed people, as the regional average grew from 49.3% to 50.9%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Northumberland

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Northumberland was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.0 points.

In 2011, 25.6% of respondents in Northumberland gave this religion on the census compared with 12.6% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.8% to 24.9%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 73.2% said they were Christian, compared with 86.6% in 2001. About 0.2% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 6.8% to 6.8%.

In Northumberland, 6.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.4% in 2001. In North East, 6.1% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Northumberland increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North East and Northumberland by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Northumberland

The percentage of Northumberland residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.6%, while the percentage of Northumberland residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.4% to 7.1%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (which remained close to 89.0%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Northumberland residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.4% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 2.8% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Northumberland remained close to 2.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Northumberland by care, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Northumberland, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.4% to 9.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.9%) households had only one person, compared with 28.9% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Northumberland which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 41.4% to 36.7%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 7.8% in 2001 to 10.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Northumberland increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Northumberland, the North East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Northumberland working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12.6% to 10.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 10.6% in 2001 to 8.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Northumberland decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Northumberland, the North East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in Northumberland at a faster rate than across England.

In Northumberland, the proportion of households without children increased from 61.3% in 2001 to 63.5% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61.1% to 61.2%.

Across the North East, the share of households without children increased from 59.6% to 61.6%.

The proportion of households with children in Northumberland fell from 28.6% to 26.4%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 10.1%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

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